Solar Potential Analysis of Bus Shelters in Urban Environments: A Study Case in Ávila (Spain)
The presence of shadows is one of the main disadvantages of photovoltaic solar panel installations in urban environments. This article analyses their effect on solar installations performed on urban elements where the use of solar energy can be considered novel: bus shelters. For this purpose, the P...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Remote Sensing |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/15/21/5189 |
| _version_ | 1827765425872568320 |
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| author | María Sánchez-Aparicio Enrique González-González Jose Antonio Martín-Jiménez Susana Lagüela |
| author_facet | María Sánchez-Aparicio Enrique González-González Jose Antonio Martín-Jiménez Susana Lagüela |
| author_sort | María Sánchez-Aparicio |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The presence of shadows is one of the main disadvantages of photovoltaic solar panel installations in urban environments. This article analyses their effect on solar installations performed on urban elements where the use of solar energy can be considered novel: bus shelters. For this purpose, the PVGIS tool is used in combination with a new methodology for the extraction of the shadow horizon profile from LiDAR point clouds. The results show a 29.90% and 37% reduction of calculated solar radiation using horizon profiles derived from LiDAR point clouds of 0.5 pts/m<sup>2</sup> and 1 pt/m<sup>2</sup>, respectively, versus no horizon profile. By taking shading into account, thanks to this study it is possible to make a more realistic prediction of the use of the electrical energy generated by the sun to cover urban energy consumption in bus shelters. Results show that the energy surplus produced overall allows these elements to be converted into charging points for light electric vehicles, allowing up to 35 units per day/bus shelter to be charged. The use of bus shelters as a place to generate clean energy through solar energy and charge light vehicles makes it possible to move towards sustainable and environmentally friendly cities. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T11:22:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-cda6f3e41fbc46eba8cd993483894c55 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-4292 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T11:22:42Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Remote Sensing |
| spelling | doaj.art-cda6f3e41fbc46eba8cd993483894c552023-11-10T15:11:20ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922023-10-011521518910.3390/rs15215189Solar Potential Analysis of Bus Shelters in Urban Environments: A Study Case in Ávila (Spain)María Sánchez-Aparicio0Enrique González-González1Jose Antonio Martín-Jiménez2Susana Lagüela3Departamento de Ingeniería Cartográfica y del Terreno, Escuela Politécnica Superior de Ávila, Universidad de Salamanca, Calle Hornos Caleros 50, 05003 Ávila, SpainDepartamento de Ingeniería Cartográfica y del Terreno, Escuela Politécnica Superior de Ávila, Universidad de Salamanca, Calle Hornos Caleros 50, 05003 Ávila, SpainDepartamento de Ingeniería Cartográfica y del Terreno, Escuela Politécnica Superior de Ávila, Universidad de Salamanca, Calle Hornos Caleros 50, 05003 Ávila, SpainDepartamento de Ingeniería Cartográfica y del Terreno, Escuela Politécnica Superior de Ávila, Universidad de Salamanca, Calle Hornos Caleros 50, 05003 Ávila, SpainThe presence of shadows is one of the main disadvantages of photovoltaic solar panel installations in urban environments. This article analyses their effect on solar installations performed on urban elements where the use of solar energy can be considered novel: bus shelters. For this purpose, the PVGIS tool is used in combination with a new methodology for the extraction of the shadow horizon profile from LiDAR point clouds. The results show a 29.90% and 37% reduction of calculated solar radiation using horizon profiles derived from LiDAR point clouds of 0.5 pts/m<sup>2</sup> and 1 pt/m<sup>2</sup>, respectively, versus no horizon profile. By taking shading into account, thanks to this study it is possible to make a more realistic prediction of the use of the electrical energy generated by the sun to cover urban energy consumption in bus shelters. Results show that the energy surplus produced overall allows these elements to be converted into charging points for light electric vehicles, allowing up to 35 units per day/bus shelter to be charged. The use of bus shelters as a place to generate clean energy through solar energy and charge light vehicles makes it possible to move towards sustainable and environmentally friendly cities.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/15/21/5189point cloudphotovoltaic energyLiDARshadowshorizon profile |
| spellingShingle | María Sánchez-Aparicio Enrique González-González Jose Antonio Martín-Jiménez Susana Lagüela Solar Potential Analysis of Bus Shelters in Urban Environments: A Study Case in Ávila (Spain) Remote Sensing point cloud photovoltaic energy LiDAR shadows horizon profile |
| title | Solar Potential Analysis of Bus Shelters in Urban Environments: A Study Case in Ávila (Spain) |
| title_full | Solar Potential Analysis of Bus Shelters in Urban Environments: A Study Case in Ávila (Spain) |
| title_fullStr | Solar Potential Analysis of Bus Shelters in Urban Environments: A Study Case in Ávila (Spain) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Solar Potential Analysis of Bus Shelters in Urban Environments: A Study Case in Ávila (Spain) |
| title_short | Solar Potential Analysis of Bus Shelters in Urban Environments: A Study Case in Ávila (Spain) |
| title_sort | solar potential analysis of bus shelters in urban environments a study case in avila spain |
| topic | point cloud photovoltaic energy LiDAR shadows horizon profile |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/15/21/5189 |
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